Review - Fierce Kingom

I know we are living through some crazy times right now - like something out of dystopian science fiction novel - and I would just like to take a moment to remind you to lean on books when times get tough.  While the aforementioned science fiction books might not be the best choice right now, please remember that if you need a break from the news cycle, you can always count on your favorite book to transport you someplace more pleasant.  In the words of the great Albus Dumbledore, "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." Wherever you are hunkering down, I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

Fierce Kingdom

by Gin Philips

Release date 07/25/2017

288 pages

4 out of 5 stars

According to the publisher, “The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours—the entire scope of the novel—she keeps on running.

Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself—the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines—is all that keeps them a step ahead of danger.

A masterful thrill ride and an exploration of motherhood itself—from its tender moments of grace to its savage power—Fierce Kingdom asks where the boundary is between our animal instinct to survive and our human duty to protect one another. For whom should a mother risk her life?”

Fierce Kingdom is one of those books that just appeared on my shelf; I don’t recall purchasing it, and I have no clue who would have given it to me, yet there it sat, waiting for me to read it.  And as I’ve mentioned before, I have a terrible habit of not reading book summaries before I dive right in.  I just assumed that this book, sitting there on my shelf proudly displaying a carousel motif, was about some sort of carnival.

Even if I had read the summary, I still would have been totally unprepared for the contents of this book.  While I appreciate that the publishers tried to refrain from giving any spoilers, in this case, I think a warning would have been more appropriate.  What the main character sees, and is running from, is an active shooter situation that unfolds towards the end of a day at the zoo with her child.  

From the first page, this book completely sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down, because I just had to know what happened next.  That being said, I would typically not choose a book that focuses on this type of violence, because I find it very upsetting.  While I’m not advocating for a book to print spoilers on the front cover to avoid upsetting potential readers, in my opinion, because an active shooter situation is such a deep and visceral fear for so many people, I think it would have been appropriate to give the audience more of a warning that something of this nature would be featured so heavily in the book.

In spite of the overall violent themes, this is not a terribly graphic book.  I would say that this is more a psychological thriller, rather than relying on action for the most part.  Fierce Kingdom poses the age old question:  how far will a parent go to protect their child? 

I gave this book four out of five stars because I thought that, despite a few plot holes, it was well done and immediately drew the reader in.  I did not, however, enjoy reading this book.  I found this book to be psychically stressful, much like No Exit.  If you are someone who reads to relax and escape from the everyday stress of life, than this is absolutely not the book for you.  If you have a higher tolerance for violence in media and like thrillers, than you would certainly enjoy this book.